Unconventional Oil and Gas Health-Related Actions by the Federal - - PDF document

Unconventional Oil and Gas—Health-Related Actions by the Federal Government

• Dr. Glenn Paulson

Science Advisor to the EPA Administrator January 8, 2013 Remarks at the Progress Review of STAR Grant Research on Carbon Geosequestration

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Overview of Presentation

• Overview of hydraulic fracturing
• Health issues possibly related to hydraulic fracturing
• HHS (NIEHS, ATSDR and NIOSH)
• DOL (OSHA)
• DOE
• EPA
• Federal Government Action (Executive Order)
• Proposed research by tri-agency steering committee

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Hydraulic Fracturing Hydraulic fracturing is a well stimulation process used to maximize the extraction

• f underground resources, including oil,

natural gas, geothermal energy, and even water.

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Hydraulic Fracturing Process

WATER CYCLE STAGES

Water Acquisition → Chemical Mixing → Well Injection → Flowback and Produced Water → Wastewater Treatment and Waste Disposal

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Some Outstanding Issues

• Are there potential hazards involved in unconventional gas activities?
• If so, what are they?
• Are there ways to reduce them?
• “Many questions remain unanswered as scientists scramble to catch

up with the boom in drilling for natural gas. All energy sources bring environmental impacts, and whether fracking’s risks outweigh benefits isn’t clear. Ultimately, that’s as much a question of economics, politics, and philosophy as it is of science. But it’s crucial that science has a place in that discussion”.

• -Eva Emerson, Acting Editor in Chief, Science News (Sept. 8, 2012)

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Drinking water (surface and ground water quality and quantity) Air Emissions Explosive Hazards, Radiological Concerns, Etc. Injury, Quality

• f Life, and

Economic Impacts Health System and Emergency Response Infrastructure

Potential Public Health Concerns of Natural Gas Activities

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• NCEH/ATSDR: Addressing community

concerns about potential health impacts from unconventional gas activities

• NIOSH: Worker safety
• NIEHS: Supports internal and external research
• n health issues related to unconventional gas

activities

Activities of the Department of Health and Human Services

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HHS: General Activities Related to Hydraulic Fracturing

• Participation in meetings & conferences to understand issues &

activities at the federal, state, and local levels.

• Promotion of scientific discussions related to health effects, e.g.,

April 30-May 1, 2012 Institute of Medicine (IOM) Roundtable

• Exploring health impacts and the use of Health Impact Assessments

(HIA’s) to examine and identify ways to mitigate potential health

• impacts. Issues include:

 Worker health and exposures  Consequences of development  Community health and economic impacts  Environmental air and water impacts

http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Environment/EnvironmentalHealthRT/2012-APR-30.aspx

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HHS: Examples of Identified Areas for Human Health Research

• Baseline measures of exposure & health status and assessment
• f spatial/temporal trends (biomonitoring; health surveillance)
• Representative epidemiology studies
• Toxicology studies on hydraulic fracturing fluids and complex

mixtures

• Risk assessments
• Health Impact Assessments at selected affected communities
• Disproportionate impacts on communities
• Robust exposure assessment
• Levels of hazardous compounds in water & air
• Mobilization of naturally occurring hazardous compounds
• Other chemicals to be monitored, needed levels of sensitivity
• f measurements

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NCEH/ATSDR Activities Related to Unconventional Gas Activities

• Co-hosted the IOM meeting designed to better

define environmental public health research needs and response

• Coordinate with EPA and other Federal, State and

Local Partners

• Provide toxicological and health expertise to national

research planning work

• Support local and state health and environmental agencies

through public health tracking, exposure assessment, and targeted investigations

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NCEH/ATSDR Activities Related to Unconventional Gas Activities, continued

• Provide health evaluations assessing exposures and

hazards in areas with new or ongoing natural gas activities

• Evaluations of Water Quality Issues:



LeRoy, PA; Pavilion, WY; Dimock, PA; Posey County, IN

• Evaluations of Air Quality Issues:



Garfield County, CO and Washington County, PA

• Evaluation of Explosive Hazards:



Medina, OH; Posey County, IN; Dimock, PA

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NIOSH Activities Related to Hydraulic Fracturing (HF)

• Oil & Gas Extraction Program

(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/oilgas/default.html)

• High Quality Research, Practical Solutions, Partnerships,

Research to Practice

• Field Efforts to Assess Chemical Exposure Risks
• Worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica may be a

significant health hazard, at times exceeding the OSHA Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) and NIOSH Recommended Exposure Level (REL)

• OSHA/NIOSH joint Hazard Alert on Silica Exposures during

Hydraulic Fracturing. (NIOSH pub #2010-130 at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-130/)

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NIOSH Activities Related to Hydraulic Fracturing (HF)

• Proposed studies to assess effects of combined inhalation
• f respirable silica and diesel particulate matter
• Animal studies on pulmonary and other organ health

effects

• Exposure assessment in oil and gas workers
• Proposal: thoroughly evaluate and characterize

exposures and identify potential health risks that may arise from a variety of activities

• NIOSH program opportunities for further workforce

evaluation

• Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Program

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NIEHS: Extramural Funding Related to Hydraulic Fracturing

• Time Sensitive Funding Opportunity Announcements
• Program Announcements (PAR): 10-083 (R03) and 10-084 (R21)
• Unsolicited proposals
• Research to Action: PA-12-153 (R01)
• Hydraulic fracturing is a topic of current interest
• Requires community participation
• EHS Core Center Opportunity Fund Announcement
• Award to University of Rochester COEC for project titled “Health and

Hydrofracking”

• Focus on information needs in NC, NY, and OH
• Key informant interviews in three states with selected community groups,

health care professionals, and local government officials

• Promote sustainable community-scientist dialogue on research development

that respond to community needs

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NIEHS: National Toxicology Program (NTP) Activities Related to HF

• Aware of community concerns about chemicals in extraction fluids and

groundwater contaminants

• Conducting preliminary scoping activities
• Held seminar November, 2011
• Reviewing available monitoring data & lists of publicly disclosed

information concerning hydraulic fracturing fluids

• Developing research on long term effects of acute & chronic broader

scale coordination and collaboration with the UOG research efforts being performed by other agencies will allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the potential human and environmental impacts associated with UOG production activities.

• Exposure

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OSHA Initiatives – Public Activities

• Released an OSHA/NIOSH joint Hazard Alert on Silica

Exposures during Hydraulic Fracturing http://www.osha.gov/dts/hazardalerts/hydraulic_frac_hazard_alert .pdf

• Participating in public meetings on hydraulic fracturing (e.g.,

Institute of Medicine, ATSDR, NACOSH, AIHce, Shale Gas Oil Conference, etc)

• Collaborating with alliance and industry groups to mitigate risks

posed by silica

• Conducting routine enforcement activities, including local

emphasis programs in four regions that target the oil and gas industry

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• “OSHA InfoSheet: Silica Exposure during Hydraulic

Fracturing” released December, 2012: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3622.pdf

• Updating OSHA’s website to include information on risks

associated with hydraulic fracturing

• Working with industry to design a training course on the oil

and gas industry for OSHA Educational Resource Centers, which will include information on hydraulic fracturing

• Coordinating with other federal agencies on

unconventional oil and gas initiatives (research, etc.)

OSHA Initiatives – Public Activities

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OSHA Initiatives – Internal Activities

OSHA is conducting additional technical training and providing technical resources for field staff on the process and hazards:

• Oil and Gas Training Class
• Technical Webinars
• Technical Documents
• Internal Wiki

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DOE NETL Office of Research and Development

• Fugitive Air Emissions and GHG - Air quality monitoring,

leak detection, point-source measurements, and Life Cycle Assessment

• Water Management - Predict volume and composition
• f flowback water as a function of reservoir, stimulation,

and fluid properties

• Subsurface Migration of Gas and Fluids - Assess

potential for gas and fluids to migrate along existing pathways to shallow systems

• Predicting Subsurface Phenomena – Estimate the

extent of fracture development, fluid migration, and induced seismicity due to fracturing and waste injection

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DOE Field Monitoring Efforts

• Ongoing field efforts in PA and WV
• Ambient and point source air quality

monitoring

• Detection of abandoned wellbores

using remote sensing techniques

• Effect of shallow gas on well

cementing

• Microseismic monitoring during

hydraulic fracturing

• Fluid and gas monitoring (for leakage

detection) using tracers

• Natural (e.g., Sr, U, C, H isotopes)
• Synthetic (Perfluorocarbon tracers)

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DOE NETL Office of Research and Development

http://www.netl.doe.gov/about/index.html

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EPA’s Drinking Water Study

• To assess whether hydraulic fracturing can

impact drinking water resources

• To identify driving factors that affect the

severity and frequency of any impacts EPA’s study plan focuses on the water cycle in hydraulic fracturing.

http://www.epa.gov/hfstudy/

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EPA is committed to using:

• Best available science
• Independent sources of information
• Transparent, peer-reviewed process
• Consultation with others

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Study Timeline

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Links to updated information

http://www.epa.gov/hfstudy/ November 2012 Technical Roundtables: http://www.epa.gov/hfstudy/techwork13.html December 2012 Progress Report: http://www.epa.gov/hfstudy/pdfs/hf- report20121214.pdf January 2013 Webinars: http://www.epa.gov/hfstudy/getinvolved.html

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Purpose of the Progress Report

Demonstrate progress made on the EPA’s Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources

• Project-specific updates that include

research approach, status and next steps

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Progress report is available at www.epa.gov/hfstudy

Research Overview

Water Treatment and Waste Disposal

Water Acquisition Chemical Mixing

Flowback and Produced Water

Well Injection

Large volume water withdrawals from ground and surface water? Surface spills on or near well pads of flowback and produced water? The injection and fracturing process? Surface spills on or near well pads of hydraulic fracturing fluids? Inadequate treatment of hydraulic fracturing wastewaters? What are the potential impacts on drinking water resources of:

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EPA Research Approaches

• Analysis of existing data
• Scenario evaluations—including

modeling

• Laboratory studies—water analyses
• Toxicity assessments
• Case studies

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Progress report is available at www.epa.gov/hfstudy

Analysis of Existing Data

Data sources include:

• Peer-reviewed literature
• FracFocus Analysis: http://fracfocus.org/
• Spills Database Analysis
• Service Company Analysis
• Information from requests to industry

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Analysis of Existing Data: Research Progress

• Data sources identified for review and analysis,

including:

• Over 12,000 well records entered into FracFocus
• State spill databases from Colorado, New Mexico

and Pennsylvania

• National Response Center spill database
• Information provided by 9 hydraulic fracturing

service companies

• 333 well files supplied by 9 oil and gas operators
• Literature review is ongoing

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Scenario Evaluations

• Water availability modeling
• Subsurface migration modeling
• Surface water modeling

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Scenario Evaluations: Research Progress

• Computer models identified, including TOUGH+, HSPF,

SWAT

• Scenarios constructed:
• Future water use scenarios, including business-as-

usual, full development and “green” technologies

• Fluid and gas migration due to faulty well construction,

nearby wells, existing faults and fractures

• General surface water discharge scenarios based on

data from wastewater treatment facilities in Pennsylvania

• Models are being run

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Laboratory and Other Technical Studies

• Analytical method development
• Source apportionment studies
• Wastewater treatability studies
• Brominated disinfection byproducts (Br-

DBPs) precursor studies

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• Adapting and testing analytical methods for several

classes of chemicals, including:

• Glycols, acrylamide, ethoxylated alcohols,

radionuclides, inorganic chemicals

• Samples of surface water, raw hydraulic fracturing

wastewater and treated effluent collected and undergoing laboratory analyses

• Wastewater treatability experiments are being designed
• Studies assessing the ability of hydraulic fracturing

wastewater to create Br-DBPs are underway

Laboratory Studies: Research Progress

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Toxicity Assessment

For hydraulic fracturing fluids and wastewater:

• Identify chemicals in injected fluid and wastewater
• Sources include: service company data, well files,

FracFocus, state and federal reports

• Identify chemical name, CASRN, chemical structure
• Compile information on chemical, physical and toxicological

properties

• Chemical and physical properties from LeadScope, EPISuite,

QikProp

• Toxicological properties from federal and state databases

(e.g., IRIS, State of California Toxicity Criteria Database)

• Estimate properties for chemicals with known structures, but

unknown properties, using quantitative structure activity relationships

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Toxicity Assessment: Research Progress

• Over 1,000 unique chemical substances identified
• Chemicals are included in Appendix A of the

progress report

• Chemical structures are available for roughly 750

chemicals

• Some properties obtained for over 300 chemical

structures

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Retrospective Case Studies

• Las Animas and Huerfano Counties, CO: Coalbed methane

extraction in the Raton Basin

• Dunn County, ND: A well blowout during hydraulic fracturing for oil in

the Bakken Shale

• Bradford County, PA: Shale gas development in the Marcellus Shale
• Washington County, PA: Shale gas development in the Marcellus

Shale

• Wise County, TX: Shale gas development in the Barnett Shale

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Conducting High Quality Science

Quality Assurance:

• Quality Management Plan defines the QA-related policies, procedures,

roles and responsibilities for the study

• Quality Assurance Project Plans document the planning,

implementation and assessment procedures for individual research projects Peer Review:

• Products for individual research projects will undergo external peer

review through scientific journals, letter reviews or ad hoc panels

• Report of results classified as a Highly Influential Scientific Assessment
• Peer review will be conducted by the EPA’s Science Advisory

Board

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Progress Report Science Advisory Board Individual Reports and Papers Draft Report of Results Science Advisory Board Peer Review Final Report of Results

Report of results will include a synthesis of available results from the research projects described in the progress report Roundtables, Workshops and Webinars 2012 2014 2013 – 2014

Research Progress Summary and Next Steps

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EPA Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources

• Study updates are available at website
• Sign up for email updates

http://www.epa.gov/hfstudy/

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Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Oil and Gas: Information on Shale Resources, Development, and Environmental and Public Health (12- 732), October, 2012. http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/647791.pdf Unconventional Oil and Gas Development: Key Environmental and Public Health Requirements (12- 874), October, 2012 http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/647782.pdf

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Multi-Agency Collaboration on Unconventional Oil and Gas Research

Department of Energy Department of the Interior Environmental Protection Agency http://unconventional.energy.gov

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Executive Order - Supporting Safe and Responsible Development of Unconventional Domestic Natural Gas Resources

“. . . it is vital that we take full advantage of our natural gas resources, while giving American families and communities confidence that natural and cultural resources, air and water quality, and public health and safety will not be compromised.”

• - President Obama

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Executive Order - Supporting Safe and Responsible Development of Unconventional Domestic Natural Gas Resources

Department of Defense Department of Interior Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce Department of Health and Human Services Department of Transportation Department of Energy Department of Homeland Security Environmental Protection Agency Council on Environmental Quality Office of Science and Technology Policy Office of Management and Budget National Economic Council

Interagency working group, chaired by the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, with Deputy-level representatives from:

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Interagency Working Group Functions

• Coordinate agency policy activities
• Coordinate among agencies the sharing of scientific,

environmental, and related technical and economic information

• Engage in long-term planning with respect to such

issues as research, natural resource assessment, and the development of infrastructure

• Promote interagency communication stakeholders
• Consult with other Federal agencies and offices, as

appropriate

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April 13, 2012, Multi-Agency Agreement

• DOE, DOI, and EPA will develop a multi-agency research

plan to address the highest priority research questions associated with safely and prudently developing unconventional shale gas and tight oil resources (UOG)

• This program will focus on:
• timely, policy-relevant science directed to research topics

where collaboration among the three agencies can be most effectively and efficiently conducted

• providing results and identifying technologies that support

sound policy decisions to ensure the prudent development

• f energy sources while protecting human health and the

environment

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Multi-Agency Committee Members

Steering Committee: composed of a policy level appointee and a senior scientist from DOI, DOE, and EPA, plus a representative from the Office of Science and Technology Policy Office

In addition to the Steering Committee, there is a technical subcommittee comprised of over 20 scientists and engineers from the three agencies and HHS with expertise in a wide range

• f research areas.

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Agency Core Research Competencies

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Potential Research Topics

• Scale and Nature of UOG Resources
• Water Quality
• Water Availability
• Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Ecological Effects
• Induced Seismicity
• Effects on Human Health and Communities

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Scale and Nature of UOG Resources

• Develop improved reservoir characterization and

reservoir-to-basin scale geologic/engineering/economic tools and science

• Such play-specific information/tools and science would

enable an improved basis of understanding the geologic variability and scale of potential risks over a variety of time-scales, as well as an improved basis for resource-management approaches that minimize potential for environmental impacts

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Water Quality

• Conduct research to understand the potential near-term and

long-term water quality impacts of unconventional oil and gas production on surface and groundwater resources

• This research could address the implications of pollutants

associated with hydrocarbon production and waste by-products interfacing with water resources, including research on pollutant measurement and modeling to understand fate, transport, and migration in surface water and groundwater, and related effects

• f hydrogeologic structures and geochemical processes
• This research could also study innovative technologies to ensure

water quality

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Water Availability

• Understand water availability and consumptive use
• f surface and groundwater resources for multiple

uses as unconventional oil and gas production increases

• Research under this topic could address technical

and data challenges with monitoring water withdrawals associated with increased oil and gas industrial activity and innovative technologies (e.g. reuse, use of alternative water sources including brackish water)

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Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Identify and monitor unconventional oil and gas

production’s potential impact on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions

• This topic would aim to improve scientific

understanding of the rate of generation and fate of air pollutants that contribute to regional air quality hazards and climate change – including stakeholder partnerships that support improved monitoring, measurement protocols, data analysis, and control

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Ecological Effects

• Identify and monitor potential ecological impacts

associated with unconventional oil and gas production activities

• This research could address the impacts of

cumulative changes in land use, hydrology, and water and air quality on ecological resources including ecosystem services, wildlife, aquatic ecology, and threatened and endangered species

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Induced Seismicity

• Research to understand the potential induced

seismicity risk associated with unconventional oil and gas production activities

• This research could address how hydraulic fracturing

and related oil and gas production activities, such as wastewater disposal, may contribute to induced seismic hazards, the potential for predictive tools and hazard assessment methodologies, and best practice techniques or standards to reduce seismic risks

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Effects on Human Health and Communities

• Understand the potential cumulative impacts on human

health of increasing concentrations of and exposures to pollutants associated with unconventional oil and gas production and on communities in the regions where production is occurring

• This research topic builds upon air and water quality

research (a) to assess potential human health effects and risks, and (b) combined with resource availability research, to understand and monitor potential environmental health risks that are realized at a regional scale

• Research on topics relating to socioeconomic impacts and

benefits; public health outcomes; epidemiology; safety, visual, noise, and light pollution; infrastructure and cultural impacts; and risk perception and communication that could inform local decision-makers on the implications of unconventional oil and gas production in their communities

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Additional Information on Multi-Agency Committee Activities

To provide additional input to the Steering Committee, please send your comments to: unconventional@hq.energy.gov In addition, a website has been set up if you wish to follow this effort: http://www.unconventional.energy.gov

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NSF funded projects

Routes to Sustainability for Natural Gas Development and Water and Air Resources in the Rocky Mountain Region: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=1240584 RCN-SEES: The Marcellus Shale Research Network: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=1140159 Standard Research Grant: The Marcellus Shale Gas Rush: A Study of Public, Private, and Academic Water Quality Monitoring Policies: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=1126235 Collaborative Research: Modeling and Analysis of Fracture Network for Shale Gas Development and Its Environmental Impact: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=1209124

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• Technology is now available that is capable of extracting

energy resources that were not previously accessible.

• Federal agencies are working together with input from

stakeholders to better assess the health and environmental impacts of the process.

• Participants are relying on high quality information to

conduct health and environmental studies and assessments.

• Video and slides from a similar talk on the website: Health

Effects of Shale Gas Extraction 2012, University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health (November 2012)

Summary

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Acknowledgements

• Alexandra Hakala (DOE)
• George Guthrie (DOE)
• Jeanne Briskin (EPA)
• Barbara Martinez (AAAS/EPA)
• Sarah Gallagher (EPA)
• Michael Broder (EPA)
• Kevin Teichman (EPA)
• David Russ (USGS)
• Vivian Pardo Nolan (USGS)
• Mike Focazio (USGS)
• Bill Leith (USGS)
• Margaret Kitt (HHS)
• Tina Forrester (HHS)
• Aubrey Miller (HHS)
• Sandra Howard (HHS)
• Tina Jones (OSHA)

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Thank you

Questions?

Previous talk at University of Pittsburgh: http://mediasite.cidde.pitt.edu/mediasite/Catalog/pages/ catalog.aspx?catalogId=36f041af-37b4-42d7-b274- b5e258a08a14

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